Ferdinand to leave United

Defender Rio Ferdinand will leave Manchester United this summer after 12 years at the club.

Ferdinand has lost his place in the United first team over the last couple of years due to a series of injuries and because of the emergence of Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling.

Ferdinand’s contract expires this summer and he has revealed he will not be signing an extension.

The 35-year-old former England captain will therefore leave Old Trafford although he has no desire to retire and is now looking for a new club.

In a statement on his website, Ferdinand said: “I have thought long and hard over the last few months about my future, and after 12 fantastic years playing for what I regard as the best club in the world, I have decided the time is right for me to move on.”